A typical day in the North Sea unloading deck cargo at a drilling rig.
OK probably going to upset someone now, 
but before I go back to sea later on in the year (maybe) I’m going to try to get an ‘over the water’ type driving job to keep abreast of the changing climate & regulations etc. Wont expect a fortune in wages but so long as it keeps the wolves from the door I will be happy. Anyone desperate out there?
raymundo:
OK probably going to upset someone now,
An ideal job would be ships stores, there would be no excuse for missing the boat 
This thread is excellent! My Uncle works overseas on a drilling ship! And has done all his life! He now lives in Java with his Indonesian wife! He is trying to get me to go! But! What do you guys think? Raymundo Dave! 
dessy:
He now lives in Java with his Indonesian wife! He is trying to get me to go! But! What do you guys think? Raymundo Dave!
Dessy, seriously!!..North London or Java!! Whats to choose■■?
Cracking pic’s you two,keep 'em coming lads,I find it all fascinating. When i was a wee lad at school I always wanted to be either a trawlerman or a lighthouse keeper ( a subject i have many books on) I’d have probably gone for the latter if it hadn’t been apparent even in the mid 70’s that it wouldn’t last. Still wish I had joined Trinity House or Scottish Lighthouses though.
Raymundo,it’s a travesty about those tugs. They’re asking for an ecological disaster around that wonderful coastline without them. I’ve spoken to crew members on a couple of them when I’ve seen them moored in Ullapool whilst there either in the truck or on hol’. Last time was May this year when the wife & I were chatting with 3 or 4 of the crew of The Anglian Princess. Quite fancy their job & it’s a great shame for all concerned that it’s ending. Our government can send countless millions of pounds for aid abroad 
yet typically isn’t prepared to fund a very neccesary project to protect our own shores 
.
bullitt:
dessy:
He now lives in Java with his Indonesian wife! He is trying to get me to go! But! What do you guys think? Raymundo Dave!Dessy, seriously!!..North London or Java!! Whats to choose■■?
Go for it I say. I’ve often thought of getting a young Filipino g/f but my wife (miserable ******) wont hear of it
To be fair to our government, they have obviously got their priorities right in sending millions & millions to India to enhance their nuclear capacity etc (with their high growth rate also) but wont pay a fraction of that amount to ensure that our coasts are protected from a devastating oil spill and save a few lives along the way.
Hello Dessy, it’s not a part of the world I’ve been to but I’d say go for it. Even if you went for a couple of years and didn’t like it you could always come home. Nice weather, nice women and cheap beer, how could life get any better! If your uncle can get you a start in the oil industry then go for it. Lots of money being spent on new kit out there and if I were free and single with no ties I’d go in a shot.
My last job. An FPSO, or Floating Production Storage and Offtake vessel. She sits in the one place all the time and loads oil from subsea into her cargo tanks. Several wellheads are plumbed in together and connect to a flexible umbilical that goes up through the centre of the hull to connect with all the pipework and gubbins on deck. Here the seawater and sand from the well are separated and the raw oil is loaded into the tanks. Once the tanks are full (usually takes roughly 2-3 weeks from empty), a shuttle tanker moors up behind and the oil is pumped across through a big hose. The oil is then taken to a refinery to turn it into diesel so that it can eventually be stolen by ■■■■■■.
Great pics dave and still a great thread Raymundo!!
Could i ask a personal question??.. what sort of wage (roughly) do you chaps earn being out at sea working in the oil industry? Not on the rigs but actually out at sea on the tankers or ships either ferrying the crude or working as above??
We all know that anything related to the oil industry alledgedly pays serious money but are the days of £1000 a week average long gone or was that only ever a rumour??
Cheers for any replies and more pics please!
Decline to answer Bullitt, in case the wife finds out, cant speak for Dave75 but I would think he earns alot more than me and my wages aint bad. Hope that helps 
In 1971 I was skipper of a 200 ton coastal barge and there was a big fuss made by the bosses of Fords at Dagenham because the night shift had gone on strike (yet again) for more pay. They eventually got a rise which put their basic over the magical £20 per week 
At the time I averaged £43.10sh but the difference is no longer so great.
ps. in 1971 I was 3 1/2 year old, early learner…
raymundo:
Decline to answer Bullitt, in case the wife finds out,
In 1971 I was skipper of a 200 ton coastal barge and there was a big fuss made by the bosses of Fords at Dagenham because the night shift had gone on strike (yet again) for more pay. They eventually got a rise which put their basic over the magical £20 per week
At the time I averaged £43.10sh but the difference is no longer so great.ps. in 1971 I was 3 1/2 year old, early learner…
great post keep them coming ,id to love to do your job i work in the LNG industry would love to get on LNG tankers any ideas how one would start 
G’day,
Fraid I’m not the person to ask, I reckon dave75 would have more info than me cos thats more his line than mine. All I can really add is that you must have done a few college courses ashore (self financed normally) then we have the same problem as a newbie driver, experience, but how do I get it? etc.
Just an example of the courses I had to complete to revalidate my certificate of competence, (ship driving licence) during 2002, all out of my own pocket.
BASIC SEA SURVIVAL, ie, how to get in a liferaft, rescue boat while wearing survival gear, not so easy as it sounds cos you’re dressed like Mr Blobby. etc etc etc
FIRST AID, basic first aid
ADVANCED FIRST AID, ship master in charge, issuing and administering dangerous drugs etc on medical advice. etc
BASIC FIRE FIGHTING, following team leaders instructions in a real fire scenario, bloody hot in them places
ADVANCED FIRE FIGHTING, same as above but your’e the one giving the orders, even hotter !!
RADAR OBSERVERS, playing at driving various ships on simulators to obtain a satisfactory level for a pass mark,
BRIDGE TEAM WORK, being able to converse with others on the team in a clear consise and easily understood manner, bearing in mind the various nationalities encountered nowadays.
These are the courses of the top of my head I remember but there are a few more not applicable at the time but have came into force since.
On top of that lot was an oral exam where I had to convince an examiner I could navigate the vessel safely with regard to all the rules and regulations that apply. WORST OF THE LOT, NO ROOM FOR ERROR!!
Shall I go into the cargo stowage and handling? or maritime law?
forgot the stability one, and the above are for dry cargo carriers Dave75 would have an even bigger list for oil/gas tankers. I do not have a dangerous cargo certificate and dont wont one, but thats a cushy ole number 
Back in the job market again as I have been sitting on me behind for the last two weeks and am getting bored with the inactivity, pees me right off. Pity there wasn’t the opportunities up here around Elgin as there are in other parts of the country and I know even those are bad. One of the problems with being a service industry type country instead of a manufacturing one I suppose.
Was told by new owners of last boat to give them a ring when wanting to go back to sea but would rather spend a bit of time behind the wheel again keeping my hand in.
Yep, I’d rather be behind the wheel too. Fed up with paperwork and BS. In answer to the previous posts about getting a start at sea, it’s not that easy if you’re above a certain age. A common way to begin a career at sea is by doing a cadetship through a shipping company. It’s basically an apprenticeship where a shipping company sponsors your training and you serve your sea time with them while they pay you through college (I got paid a grand total of £400/month for college time and £380/month for sea time when I did mine). I started my cadetship when I was 22 and that was quite old as most folk start straight from school. I did read about a 40 year old fireman who began a cadetship a few years back though (rather him than me). Unfortunately, Mucksavaga’s opinions earlier on in this thread were based on fact. Unless you’re Indian, Chinese, Eastern European or Philippino you’ll find it hard to get a job deep sea, and if you do it’ll be highly likely that you’ll be the only Brit/english speaker onboard. A few years back Chinese officers with the containership company Evergreen were being handed british tickets because the ships were registered in the UK, despite them having never set foot in Britain. And our so called union thought this was a great thing! There are still a few companies in the UK with all British crews such as a couple of the ferry companies but in truth the British Merchant Navy is knackered and has been for a while. I work in the oil industry in the north sea nowadays and I got my job because of my merchant navy tickets and background so it’s not all doom and gloom. In all honesty though, I really would rather stack shelves than go deep sea nowadays. I was speaking to a lad last week who spent a month alongside in Australia and he only got ashore for 24 hours in all that time. A lot of big companies are also ‘dry ships’ AKA no booze. You could be at sea for 4 months or more and only get a pint if you get the very rare opportunity to get up the road when you dock- no thanks!
raymundo:
After some consultation with the boss (her who must be obeyed) I have decided that I want to give driving ships a miss for a while .
I though you sailed ships nopt drove them